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Salary Information
- Entry Level:
- $83,640 - $109,512 annual
- Lateral Transfer:
- $93,768 - $109,512 annual
Job Description
Click Here to begin the application process
Please be advised that our application and testing follows a cyclical schedule. We maintain an ongoing recruitment process for both entry-level and lateral positions. If you do not find an active job opening at the moment, another will be reposted within a few days.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary $83,640- $109,512
- Lateral Officer starting pay is between $97,380 - $109,512 a year, based on experience.
- Full medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Time Off
- 10 Paid Holidays plus
- 16 hours Personal Holiday
- 12 Days paid Vacation per year to start. Accrual increases with Longevity.
- 12 Days paid Sick Leave (can be used for spouse/domestic partner, child or parent) (unlimited accrual)
- LEOFF II Pension
- Deferred Compensation Plan (Optional) (City Matches up to $4,380 per year)
- Premium and Incentive pay depending on assignment
- Yearly uniform allowance of $550.
- Generous Overtime Opportunities
· Relocation assistance available for those who live 50 miles or further from Seattle,WA
Hiring Incentives
· Entry-level - $7,500 Hiring Incentive
· Lateral - $30,000 Hiring Incentive
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Additional Information
*_1. Submit Application: *_All candidates must submit a formal application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. To submit an application, click “Apply” at the top of this job bulletin.
2. Register and Complete 2 Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN). Examinations are offered virtually or at physical locations across the United States. These components include:
· Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
· Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)
(Financial hardship fee waivers are available for the NTN Testing fee. See additional information below.)
Candidates who have taken the NTN Frontline National Law Enforcement Exam within the last six months for another agency may transfer their previous scores to the Seattle Police Department. This is accomplished within your NTN account portal.
Candidates who meet eligibility criteria and pass all portions of the exam will be placed on an eligible list according to their exam scores. If they pass, candidates must then complete and pass all the below pre-employment steps to become a Seattle police officer.
*_3. Physical Agility Test: *_Candidates must successfully complete the Washington Physical Agility Test (WAPAT) before they can be hired. The Seattle Police Department would like for all candidates to complete this test within the exam cycle. In-state and out-of-state applicants should schedule and participate in this test as outlined below:
· If you are a Washington-state resident AND you passed your initial exams: You must complete your Physical Agility Test (WAPAT) at a National Testing Network site located in Washington State. Contact NTN candidate support at (206) 428-3265 to schedule a WAPAT as soon as you have successfully passed your NTN Frontline and PSSA tests.
· If you live in any state other than Washington AND you passed your initial exams: Your WAPAT will be administered virtually by an NTN proctor. To schedule your virtual WAPAT exam, please contact NTN candidate support at (206) 428-3265 as soon as you have successfully passed your NTN Frontline and PSSA tests.
*_4. Oral Board Interview: *_Candidate will need to complete an oral board interview with the Seattle Police Department. This will be done virtually for all candidates.
*_5. Backgrounding: *_Candidates who pass the exam and oral board will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background unit to fill out their personal history information. SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position listed below.
6. Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam: Candidate will need to complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision & hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via ZOOM. The medical tests can only be completed in-person at specific Seattle locations currently.
*_7. Final Offer of Employment: *_If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.
Preference Points: If applicable, candidates may have preference points added to their passing exam scores for: military experience, multilingual abilities, prior community service experience, prior work experience with the City of Seattle, and prior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Department.
Applicants who are proficient in more than one language may request to be tested for multilingual proficiency (after passing initial exams). Applicants who have two or more years of verifiable full-time professional or volunteer experience or equivalent (4,160 cumulative hours) delivering direct human/social services may request to be considered for community service preference points by completing this Form.
All requests for preference points will be evaluated in accordance with [Rules 9.17-9.21](https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/PSCSC/PSCSC Meeting recordings/Rules 2022/2022_PSCSC_Rules_Process_%26_Procedure_Clerk_Filing.pdf) (Download PDF reader) of the City of Seattle’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission.
Job Requirements
- Age: 21
- Education: Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
- Experience: Listed Below
Qualifications
Eligibility Standards:
· Be at least twenty and half (20.5) years of age.
· Hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S.
· Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
· Individuals may not have been discharged from military service under dishonorable conditions.
· *_For lateral candidates- *_Two (2) years of post-academy experience as a certified law enforcement officer (municipal, county, state) with FULL law enforcement power and duties during the last 36 months.
Applicants must meet all eligibility standards by the date of participation in the exam process.
Minimum Employment Standards:
The following standards apply to all candidates for Police Officer.
++Drug Use.++ Prior to the exam date:
· Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and
· Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within the previous three (3) years, and
· Have not used any Hallucinogens, LSD, Mushrooms, or Psylocybin within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet or Phencyclidine within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not inhaled aerosols, sometimes referred to as Huffing (paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within the previous five (5) years, and
· Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity, and
· Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of the sales/marketing of the drug(s).
Please note that use of illegal drugs and the illegal use of prescription drugs, referred to in this standard, means the use of one or more drugs, the possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Offers of employment are conditioned upon a pre-employment drug screening to confirm abstinence from illegal drug use.
++Traffic Record++
A candidate's driving record will be thoroughly assessed and may be a factor for disqualification. Examples of infractions/traffic crimes that may be disqualifying:
· Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, or Hit & Run Driving.
· Suspension of your driver's license within five (5) years of the exam date
· Three (3) or more moving violations (speeding, negligent driving, etc.) within five (5) years of the exam date will be carefully reviewed.
· Two (2) or more accidents within five (5) years of the exam date, wherein candidate was judged to be at fault and/or charged with a moving violation.
++Criminal History++
A candidate's criminal history, including all arrests, prosecutions, deferred prosecutions, "Alford" pleas, and non-conviction information will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. The following will be disqualifying:
· Any adult felony conviction.
· Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
· Any domestic violence conviction.
++Employment Record++
A candidate's employment history, including any terminations, or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
++Financial Record++
A candidate's credit history, including excessive credit card debt or unresolved accounts in collection will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. The following will be disqualifying:
· Failure to pay income tax or child support.
++Professional Appearance++
All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance at all times. SPD has the sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer. Any and all tattoos, branding (intentional burning of the skin to create a design), voluntary disfigurement (marring or spoiling of the appearance or shape of a body part), or scarification (intentional cutting of the skin to create a design) shall be carefully reviewed by SPD on a case-by-case basis.
A valid Washington State Driver's License is required prior to being hired.
Ability to accurately type at least 35 wpm is highly desirable.
Seattle residence is not required for application or appointment.
Job offers are contingent on review of credit, criminal and driving history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process. Medical, psychological, and polygraph examinations are administered after a conditional offer of employment is made.
Contact Information
Autumn Manning
autumn.manning@seattle.gov
The City of Seattle
700 5th Ave
Seattle, Washington 98104
phone: 425-282-9911